Broadening the scope of diversity management - Strategic implications in the case of the Netherlands

An analysis of theories and practices of diversity management as illustrate d in the case of the Netherlands, shows that they are too narrowly focused on redressing imbalances experienced by ethnic minorities and bridging cult ural differences between majorities and ethnic minorities in the workplace. Agencies in the field of diversity management have fallen back on a limite d and standardized stock of methods that ignore the specificity of organiza tional dynamics and largely operate in isolation from existing equity polic ies. The influence of diversity management has thus remained quite superfic ial. A contextual approach would broaden both the body of thought and the r epertory of methods of diversity management and strengthen its political an d social relations. Such an approach would respond to its most challenging tasks: fostering social justice, enhancing productivity, and breaking the c ircle that equates cultural difference,vith social inequality.